Method and apparatus for dry spinning filaments



Dec. 2, 1952 H. MILLER ETAL I 2,619,676

METHOD AND APPARATUS PoR DRY SPINNING PILANENTS Filed June 4, 1946 2 SI-{EETS-SI-lEET 1 HUGH M/LLER W/L/ IAM H. KREAMER By. ZI; 'E

J.. e.. 6 z 5 R M 7 SO 4 w A 6 m i 9 E VEK 1.. S NL 2 s m r? MM N m 8 l m s HL A 2 mxkmn@ GL L 'Co c U./ m.. 8 8c HW wi J G m Y w B L c A m 4 m S m c RD au\4 E R L m u. s c M w 4 H m /M c P 4` A 4C D \4 N A. D O c C cl w 6 8f E 4 M u w M m M 2 J o .w c D m Patented Dec. 2, 1952 `METHOD APPARATUS FOR, DRY

SPINNING FILAMENTS HughfMillenandWlliam H. Kreamer, Meadville,A Ba., assignorstorAmel-ican Viscose Corporation, Wilmington,.Del'.,.a corporation of Delaware Application June 4, 1946, Serial No: 65743268 21. Claims.

invention. relates.; to the-supply of; ailuid medium, such.. as; ain or otherV gas; or.`y vaporv of controlled; temperature: to. spinning machines comprising; azplurality.l of.. spinnngjcells. arranged systemsY for executingV the. invention--y Figure. 1: is a, horizontat sectiong taken on ythe line I--Iior Figure. 2;;

Figure 2-l is a, vertical section taken on theline I-I-Il of. Figure l.;

Figure: 3: is, a horizontal section simi-1arto that of Figure 1 of a modication;

Fig-.ure lisra horizontal section; similar. to that ci Eigurel of another modication.;

Fg-urefis a. horizontal section similar to. that of Figure.- 1; of. still: another modification;

Figure. eis; a. horizontal.. section. through. another' modiiication.; and

Eig-ure. 'Tf isa, vertical section. `taken on. line In- Figures Land 2, the. system civ the present invention. is. arranged tov supply a fluid medium of gaseous.` orf vaporous naturev tooneyor two rows. of spinning; cells.Y locatedlaterallyl of armanifold duct. This embodiment isf illustratively shown for; supplyingheated or cooled air. to the spinningcells.y andi comprises a. feeding ductk 2 connected to the discharge. outlet off a blowerr or fan 3.. Thev duct 2.' hasta: plurality of. ports 4 connected: with side; ducts; orbranchf outlets. 4 which; communica-te: withf the spinning` cells: 5'. A retur-.ngduct 6 surrounds thema-insupply duct 2; and; receives. excessA ii-uid medium. discharged from. theopen end 'L' of'duct Z. Thewall of. duct ziconstitutes a. closed; heatfconductive partition preventing. intermirrgling.- between. the` contents' ofithei main, supply duct 2= and thereturn: duct 6;,except at theopenfend; 1: of duct.2. Theireturn ductiiswellinsulated against; loss. or gain of` heat, as; by the material.. 8.. andthe` ducts. con.- nectedf thereto. may also be.insulated.Y Likewise, the spinning: cellsvand any" portion ofthe branch 2; outlets 4 which would otherwise be unprotected by the insulation. 8. ofithe return.v ductv 6;. may be insulated in customary fashion. The. spinning cells 5 may be. surrounded by a jackety 8a which y may be suppliedwith a heating-medium. or means in the case of dry spinning or with.l a. cooling medium or means. in the case of melt-spinning, though this is not essential. The return duct is connected yby thedischarge or exhaust conduit 9 to the inlet ofthe blower 3'. The conduit. 9 is also provided with any suitableheating, or cooling means Il) which may: take. the forni of; a steam coil, an electric heater or theA like, ori a coil. for a cooling brine or the like. An open branch conduit Il provided with a lter I2' and an adjustable damper i-'may be provided 'cocontrol the admission of supplemental airy fromthe spinning room atmosphere or of some other sup.- plemental gas or vapor, When used, from a suitable supply vesseli thereof..

In. practice, an excess. off. heated; or cooled air'. or other gas' or vapor medium is. supplied toL the duct 2' so; that after the amount; required by the spinning; cells'. is.v withdrawn through. the branches: 41 a. volume of. the medium least equivalent.` to. the; totall amount. supplied, to; the associated cells. is refcirculated; The. ice-circulaition of the excess. uidl medium; through; the. re'- turn duct which surrounds. the; main duct.. 2; and largely alsofthe.I branch conduits; 4; tends; to main# tain the; temperature ci the; air supplied to: the cells along the duct at uniform temperaturefconditicns inispite-ofi the temperature of" the atmosphere inthe spinning room, The damper; 1:3 is adjusted so; that anywhere4 from two to. ten. times the amount of? airactually usedA by the-spinning cellsis introduced into. the; main duct; 2..

In Figure: 3; there isA shown. a modication in whichr the variouselements. corresponding to the elements of Figure l are ydesignated by' thesame reference characters. but Witira postscript letter d. In this, embodiment, the: branch conduits; 4a dc not communicate directly with the conduit 2a' but have open. ends 4u communicating. with the surroundingl duct 6a. Preferably., such' open*- ings du'- arev disposed closer to.- the outside surfface of duct 2a than to the inside surface' of duct 6a.

In `Figure 4., elements corresponding tothose in Figure 1 are designated by corresponding reference characters but with a postscript letter b. In this embodiment, the blower 3h discharges into. the outer duct 61h and the branch conduits 4b derive their medium from communicatin ports 4b in the-ductxb.

In Figure 5, elements corresponding to those in Figure 4 carry the same reference characters except that the postscript is changed to letter c. In this embodiment, the branch conduits 4c have their openings 5c communicating with the outer duct Sc and as in the embodiment of Figure 3, it is preferable that such communication be nearer the inside duct 2c than the outsi-de duct Ec. As in Figure 4, the fluid is supplied to the outer duct and returns through the inner duct.

In the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, a modified arrangement is shown in which a more refined control of the uniformity of temperature and rate of supply of evaporative or cooling medium to the several cells in a row is provided. As shown, a blower I5 discharges air through two supply ducts I6 and I 'I which serve the opposite ends of two adjacent manifolds I8 and i9 respectively. The spinning cells 2li, which cptionally may be insulated and/or provided with a heating or cooling jacket, as in the embodiment of Figures l and 2, are each connected to both manifolds by means of branch conduits 2| and 22. As in the embodiment of Figures l and 2, excess air is supplied to the manifolds I8 and I9 and discharges from the open ends 23 and 24 thereof respectively into return ducts 25 and surrounding the respective manifolds. These return ducts discharge into opposite side entrances 21 and 28 of the blower I5. In this embodiment, any reduction in volume or change in temperature (whether decrase or increase) of the evaporative medium supplied through conduit ZI to the cell at the far end of duct i8 is compensated for by a corresponding' greater supply through the conduit 22 at the near end o duct Iii. Such compensation is eiiected `for the entire row of cells as is readily apparent from a study of the drawing.

While all of the embodiments shown are concerned with the supply of the evaporative or cooling medium to a single machine comprising one or two rows of cells, it is obvious that a single heating (or cooling) and blowing system may be arranged to supply a plurality of such machines. Again, separate heating (or cooling) and blowing systems may be associated with a spinning machine comprising a plurality of rows of spinning cells. Thus, instead of the single blower of Figures 6 and 7, a separate blower and heating (or cooling) system may be provided at opposite ends of the ducts IB and I9 as in Figures 1 and 2. A spinning machine comprising a large number of rows of spinning cells may be provided with a plurality of evaporative or cooling medium supply ducts disposed between adjacent rows and fed alternately from blowers positioned at opposite ends thereof. The cells in the intervening rows may be connected to both manifolds disposed on adjacent sides of the rows, so as to compensate for reduction or rise in temperature or reduction of volumetric supply rate in the cells at the far end of each duct.

Changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A spinning machine comprising a row of spinning cells, a duct for supplying a fluid medium to the cells, a return duct contiguous with the rst duct, one of said ducts surrounding the other, conduits connecting the cells to one of the ducts at spaced points therealong, and extending through the other duct in heat exchanging relationship with the medium therein, means Cil for introducing the medium into one end of the supply duct, and the supply duct being constructed to discharge into the return duct adjacent the other end of the supply duct only.

2.` A spinning machine comprising a row of spinning cells, a duct for supplying a uid medium to the cells, a return duct contiguous with the rst duct, one of said ducts surrounding the other, conduits connecting the cells to the supply duct at spaced points therealong and extending through the return duct in heat exchanging relationship with the medium therein, means for introducing the medium into one end of the supply duct, and the supply duct being constructed to discharge into the return duct adjacent the other end of the supply duct only.

' 1 3. A spinning machine comprising a row of spinning cells, a duct for supplying a iiuid rnedium to the cells, a return duct contiguous with the rst duct, one of said ducts surrounding the other, conduits connecting the cells to the return duct at spaced points therealong and extending through the other duct in heat exchanging relationship with the medium therein, means for introducing the medium into one end of the supply duct, and the supply duct being constructed to discharge into the return duct adjacent the other end of the supply duct only.

4. A system for distributing a gaseous medium to a plurality of spaced units comprising a duct for supplying a fluid medium to the units, a return duct contiguous with the rst duct, one of said ducts surrounding the other, conduits connecting the units to the supply duct at spaced points therealong and extending through the return duct in heat exchanging relationship with the medium therein, means for introducing the medium into one end of the supply duct, a communicating opening adjacent the other end of the supply duct between the supply duct and the return duct so that the supply duct discharges directly into the return duct, and an exhaust conduit connected to the return duct at a position remote from the communicating opening.

5. A system for distributing a gaseous medium to a plurality of spaced units comprising a duct for supplying a uid medium to the units, branch conduits connecting the units to the duct at spaced points therealong, a, return duct surrounding the supply duct, said branch conduits extending radially through the return duct in heat exchanging relationship with the medium therein, means for introducing the medium into one end of the supply duct, a communicating opening adjacent the other end of the supply duct between the supply duct and the return duct so that the supply duct discharges directly into the return duct, and an exhaust conduit connected to the return duct at a position remote from the communicating opening.

6. A system for distributing a gaseous medium to a plurality of spaced units comprising a duct for supplying a fluid medium to the units, branch conduits connecting the units to the duct at spaced points therealong, a return duct surrounding the supply duct, said branch conduits extending radially through the return duct in heat exchanging relationship with the medium therein, means for introducing the medium into one end of the supply duct, the supply duct being made of material having high heat-conductivity, a communicating opening adjacent the other end of the supply duct between the supply duct and the return duct so that the supply duct disaerienne charges directly' they return duct;V amd; exliex1st'conduii cunnect-:ilv tu.v the.v .return duct:- .at ic,positionremote Strom; the' open- 'A-systenr distrilcuniing''a gaseous medium tout'plurality-s of! spacedunita comprising the duct funsupplying ftuid;A medium to* tlie units, -lluan'ch'v conduits connecting the units to:A the duct y'spaced points therealongg. a return duct. sur:- -rcundingf the supply duct, said; bra-neit conduits extending' raxiially-` through the return: lduct in heat exchanging relationship with th'e medium "thereim means; for:introducing` the: medium into one: 'endfV 'on the: supply duct, a: communicating -fopening'adjacemithe other 'endof the supplyduct .between the supply duct. and: the returnduct, 'am exhaust conduit connectedr to the returnduct ata position: rem'otei from the. communicating opening, connected: between the` conduit the'- supplyi duct. for' recycling the medium, nreansi associated Vwith: the recycling means? ior controlling the tenrperature ott theA mediumr and means-:fior controlling: the introduction. or. additional mediiunf into the recycling means, adivmce.. ofi ai'. temperature-changing means..

-Y .1181.. 'fr method or supplying uuid mediumI totr a 'plurality of spinning cells comprising passing a "stream ofi theiiuid; to: a` main-supply duct. in l'a'rge excess. off-the 'amountv required bythe cells; then passing: thee stream directlyffrcm the supplyduct into and through a contiguous. return; duct, withdrawing thefluid'. requirements forfthe: cells from 'one-duct at;spaccd` points tnerealong andl'ead.- ing:4 the ilddithus withdrawn through paths extendingthrou'gh theiregion'- enclosed: by the other .dictlLiIi-lheat1'exchanging relationship with lthe the region, and:Y maintairnng the -stre'anu im tire/renner duct: iny heat exchanging 'relationship with the stream.'` in. the. main. supply through; a. common closed' heat' conductive portionxofthe supply duct andthe. return duct therebetween along all oil` that. portion or? their length comprisingV saidl spac'e'dl points of Withd'raw'alav 1 9.. A. spinti-ung manhinercomprising a row' or .spinning cells;v ai duct for supplying. afiuidrneditothe. cells, a. return duct'V surrounding the supply' duct; branch: conduits connecting the cells and the supply duct, said conduits extending through the-returnduct-in heat exchanging relatilnslfiip` with. the.l regiert enclosed by the return duct, means for introducing the medium into one endioff the supply duct, the supply duct bm'ngE constructedY to: discharge into thev return duct adjacent the other end oifthesupply duct.

l0. A spinning machine comprising a row of spinning'cells; a duct' for supplying a; iluid medium `toe the cells, a return-z duct surrounding: the supply? duct; branch. conduitsa connecting; the cells and the supply duct, said. conduits extending imponen the return duct inv heat exchanging; re-

lationship with the region' enclosed by the'. re-

.tuiin vducufmeans for introducing the' medium into one: end of the supply duct'T the supply duct lfheing" made`4 of materialv having: high hea-t. conductivity and being constructed to discharge into the return duct adjacent the other end of the supply duct, -and means for insulating the outside of the return duct.

11. A spinning machine comprising a row of spinning cells, a duct for supplying a fluid medium to the cells, a return duct surrounding the supply duct, branch conduits connecting the cells and the supply duct, said conduits extending through the return duct in heat exchanging relationshipf with the-region enclosedr bythe. return duct, inea-ns'l for' introducing thef medium. into oneendot the supply duct, the supply du'ct being made of material'l having high. heat conductivity and being constructed' todischarge intoy the return duct adjacent the other end oi' the supply duct; vmeans for changing theI temperature` ofv the medium therein by the return duct', and mea-ns for' controlling the introduction ot' addi',- tional'. medium into the return ductY in advance 'ofthe temperature changingfmeans. l

12E method' for' supplying'a fluid medium t0 a= plural'ity'of spinning cells comprising passing a stream off the Huid through aY mainrv supply duct in an amount fromv two toten timesthe volume required bythe cells; then passing the'A stream directly from the supply duct' into andi through a contiguous return duct, withdrawing the rcqui'rements for` the cells from the stream at spaced peints therealong, and maintaining` the stream inthe return duct ih heat interchange relationship with the' stream inthe mainsupply duct' through a closed heat-conductive partition constituting' a portion of both ducts allalong that portion off their length coextensive with said spaced points of' withdrawal.

13'; A method for` supplying a fluid'- mediunr t'o a plurality of spinning cells comprising passing a stream of the fluidi through a main supply duct in largel excess of the amount required bythe cells, then passing the stream directly from the supply duct into and through a; contiguous re'- turn duct, withdrawing the requirements for" the cells from the stream inthe return duct' at spaced points therealong; and' maintaining the stream in the return duct in heat interchange-relationship` with. the streairny inthe main'v supply d'uct throughx a closedf heateccnductive' partition constiiziitingv a portionof bothducts-V allalongvwv that portion off their length coeert`ensiveiv with said spacedpoints' of? withdrawal.

lllla A method-for supplying a fluid medium to a; 'plurality' oi-T spinning' cells comprising passing at streaml of the fluid through as main' supply duct in' large excess of theL amount required by the cells, theny pass-lng the stream directlyfrom the supply duct' into andl through a contiguous return; duct, the mainsupply duct'Y surrounding the-ether; withdrawing the requirements forV the cellsfrom the stream in theret-urn ducti at spaced points along the contiguously related portions'of the, ducts, and" maintaining: the stream. in the return duct' in; heatv interchange relationship with the stream in the main supply duct through a closed heatrc'onductive partition. constituting a portion of both ducts. allv along that" portion oi their. length coextensive. wfitlit said spaced points of'witldrawal.

L5., A method. for supplying. a` Huid; medium to atplurali-ty ot spinning cells comprising passing astreamof'the uidthrough.. a main supply duct in large excess ot the amount required by the cells, then: passing the stream through-y a con.-

16. A spinning machine comprising a row of spinning cells, a duct extending lengthwise of the row of cells for supplying a fluid medium toV the cells, a return duct contiguous with the rst duct, at least one of said ducts constituting means for conductingheat between the ducts and providing a heat-conductive partition between the ducts, said partition being closed along the entire length of the ducts except at one end thereby separating the ducts throughout their length except at said one end where intercommunication is provided, conduits connecting the cells to one of the ducts at spaced points therealong and extending through the other duct in heat exchanging relationship withthe medium therein, and means for introducing the medium into the end of the supply duct remote from the aforesaid end.

17. A spinning machine comprising a row of spinning cells, a duct extending lengthwise of the row of cells for supplyinga fiuid medium to the cells, a return duct contiguous with the rst duct, at least one of said ducts constituting means for conducting heat between the ducts and providing a heat-conductive partition between the ducts, said partition being closed along the entire length of the ducts except at one end thereby separating the ducts throughout their length except at said one end where intercommunication is provided, conduits connecting the cells to the supply duct at spaced points therealong and extending through the return duct in heat exchanging relationship with the medium therein, and means for introducing the medium into the end of the supply duct remote from the aforesaid end.

18. A system for distributing a gaseous medium to a plurality of spaced units comprising a duct f or supplying a uid medium to the units, a return duct contiguous with the rst duct, at least one of said ducts constituting means for conducting heat between the ducts and providing a heatconductive partition therebetween constituting a portion of -both ducts, said partition being closed along the entire length of the ducts except at one end thereby separating the ducts throughout their length except at said one end where intercommunication is provided, conduits connecting the units to one of the ducts at spaced points `therealong and extending through the other duct in heat exchanging relationship with the medium therein, means for introducing the medium into the end of the supply duct remote from the aforesaid end, and an exhaust conduit connected to the return duct at a position remote from the aforesaid intercommunicating end.

19. A system for distributing the gaseous medium to a plurality of spaced units comprising a duct for supplying the fluid medium to the units, a return duct contiguous with the nrst duct, at least one of said ducts constituting means for conducting heat between the ducts and providing a heat-conductive partition therebetween constituting a portion of both ducts, said partition being closed along the entire length of the ducts except at one end thereby separating the ducts throughout their length except at said-one end where intercommunication is provided, oonduits connecting the units to the supply duct at spaced points therealong and extending through the return duct in heat exchanging relationship with the medium therein, means for introducing the medium into the end of the supply duct remote from the aforesaid end, and an exhaust conduit connected to the return duct at a. position remote from the aforesaid intercommunieating end.

20. A method for supplying a fluid medium to a plurality of spinning cells comprising passing a stream ofthe fluid to a main supply duct in large excess of the amount required by the cells, then passing the streamV directly from the supply duct into and through acontiguous return duct. one of said ducts surrounding the other, withdrawing fluid for the cells from the inner duct at spaced points therealong and leading the fluid thus withdrawn through conduits extending from the inner duct through the wall of the outer duct in heat exchanging relationship with the region enclosed by the outer duct, and maintaining the stream in the return duct in heat interchange relationship with the stream in the main supply duct through a closed heat-conductive partition constituting a portion of both ducts all along that portion of their length coextensive with said spaced points of withdrawal. Y

2l. A method for supplying a fluid medium to a plurality of spinning cells comprising passing a stream of the fluid through a main supply duct in large excess of the amount required by the cells, then passing a stream directly 'from the supply duct into and through a contiguous return duct surrounding the supply duct, withdrawing fluid from the supply duct at spaced points therealong transversely through the return duct through conduits in heat exchanging relationship with the region enclosed by the return duct, and maintaining the stream in the return duct in heat interchange relationship with the stream in the main supply duct through a closed heat-conductive partition constituting a portion of both ducts all along that portion of their length coextensive with said spaced points of withdrawal.

HUGH MILLER. WILLIAM H. KREAMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of-record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,580,274 Anderson Apr. 13, 1926 1,770,593 Johnson July 15, 1930 1,970,766 Pfahl Aug. 21, 1934 2,015,956 Moseley Oct. 1, 1935 2,295,251 Baker Sept. 8, 1942 2,351,772 Lodge June 20, 1944 2,515,393 Burke July 18, 1950 

